2012 Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic at Longbow Golf Club
MESA, Arizona – With a field that boasts four of the event’s past champions and 19 Rolex Junior All-Americans, the 2012 Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic hosted by Longbow Golf Club promises to display the best junior golfers in the world over the Easter weekend, April 5-8.
The 54-hole stroke play tournament will take place at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., for the eighth straight year. The 144-player field features juniors from 19 states, Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Thailand, with 25 players representing the home state of Arizona. A total of 37 players in the tournament field have signed National Letters of Intent to play college golf in the fall of 2012.
Past Champions
2010 Champion Alison Lee
The event garners one of the strongest fields in junior golf, as evidenced by its impressive list of past champions. In addition to Hunter Mahan, LPGA standout Paula Creamer was victorious in 2003 and 2004. Local players who have found themselves in the winner’s circle are Scottsdale natives Amanda Blumenherst (2002), Drew Kittleson (2005) and Philip Francis (2006). In 2011, Phoenix native Zach Wright and Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand captured the Easter weekend titles.
This year’s field will see four past champions return for their chance at etching their name on the trophy one final time before moving on to the collegiate ranks. Zachary Wright (2011), Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif. (2010), Trey Kaahanui of Tempe, Ariz. (2008), and Kyung Kim of Chandler, Ariz. (2008), are committed to play their final Easter weekend as a junior at Longbow Golf Club.
Tournament Schedule
The tournament practice round will be a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start on Thursday, April 5. First and second-round tee times will be off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees from 7 – 8:39 a.m. for the first wave and 11:30 a.m. – 1:09 p.m., Friday, April 6, and Saturday, April 7. After a 36-hole cut, the final round will go off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, Sunday, April 8, from 7 – 8:57 a.m. An awards ceremony will immediately follow final-round play. Spectators are welcome and admission is free of charge.
Your Chance to Help the AJGA
2011 Champion Zachary Wright
During the tournament week, some of the top juniors will also take part in the Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament Thursday, April 5. The Junior-Am will be a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start at Longbow Golf Club. This Junior-Am is a great way to entertain clients, reward employees and support junior golf, as the proceeds will benefit the AJGA Foundation, The First Tee and the Junior Golf Association of Arizona help the AJGA, who will use the proceeds to make contribution to local junior golf charities in Arizona. If you’re interested, contact Jay Larcheid at 480.807.5400 or email him at jay1@longbowgolf.com
About Heather Farr
Tournament namesake Heather Farr started playing golf when she was 8 years old, and by the age of 13 won the first of her four Arizona Women’s Amateur titles. Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989, at the tender age of 24, and bravely battled the disease through November 20, 1993.
Heather’s golf resume includes:
Wins at the Polo Golf Junior Classic in 1979 and 1982 Rolex Tournament of Champions
12 National Junior Tournament crowns
Rolex Junior Player of the Year honors in 1980 and 1982 and Rolex Junior All-American five times
Co-medalist at the 1981 Women’s Amateur and the low amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open in 1983
Two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference performer at Arizona State University.
Member of the 1984 Curtis Cup and World Amateur Teams
Qualified for the LPGA Tour in October 1985 at the age of 20 (youngest to do so at the time).
Six top-10 finishes on the LGPA Tour
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